Ball retainer chain, a method of making the same, and a linear guide apparatus

Abstract

A ball retainer chain includes a flat belt with axially arranged holes defined thereon. A separating portion is disposed between every two holes; upper / lower spacers combine with the separating portion. The surface between the separating portion and the adjacent hole is formed by a smooth surface. Partial spacer is formed by a spherical surface that smoothly connected to the hole surface. The spherical surfaces interlacedly arranged at a right side a left side include an opening with a vertical direction and a lateral directions corresponding to the flat belt, so that a mold pair reliant on a slantwise opening and closing manner would complete an injection molding. A smooth cylindrical form at two ends of the flat belt connects to an indentation at an inner or a mold surface of the flat belt. Thereby, while applying the belt to a linear guide apparatus, the cylindrical form could adjustably bend inward or outward for achieving a fluent traveling.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to a ball retainer chain, a method of making the same, and a linear guide apparatus, in particular, the ball retainer chain retains a plurality of axially and serially balls arranged therein, and any two balls are separated at intervals, thereby permitting the ball retainer chain and the balls to run in a circulating motion within a recirculating passage of the linear guide apparatus.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]The conventional linear guide apparatus generally comprises a slider and a rail that is axially stretchable. The slider and the rail respectively provide at least one row of corresponding raceways. A series of balls is disposed between the raceways and is allowed contacting the raceways and roll thereon. The slider further provides a return passage and two turnaround channels disposed correspondent with each row of the raceways. The turnaround channels connect to the...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a ball retainer chain and a method of making the chain that avoids the conventional shortcomings of conventional methods. The chain includes a flat belt with holes and spacers that combine to form a smooth surface. The chain also includes a recirculating passage with a guiding groove for ensuring proper positioning of the chain. The chain is designed to have a lubricant effect and can withstand uneven movement. The invention also provides a linear guide apparatus for guiding the chain and a method of using the apparatus. The technical effects of the invention include improved efficiency, reduced friction, and improved lubrication.

Problems solved by technology

However, since the resin material readily contracts, the ball could not freely rotate within a hole provided by such ball retainer chain, and thence a resistance would be generated to adversely incur an uneven motion thereof.

However, the molding of such ball retainer chain has to insert balls into the mold, thereby incurring a more complicate molding means; the automation thereof is also intricate.

In addition, since the spacers and the balls are densely combined with each other, the lack of the oil storage is emerged.

However, such ball retainer chain could not allow the ball to be retained in the center of the hole by the spacer.

However, since the straightforward restricting surfaces on the separating portions are interlacedly disposed with each other, a sectional difference rather than an even surface is generated between the adjacent straightforward restricting surface and the claw surface.

Additionally, each straightforward restricting surface is shaped by the mold from divergent directions, so ragged edges are readily generated at the place where the sectional difference occurs; therefore, the rolling element is subjected to be influenced and an unsmooth movement is incurred.

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